Ready to Be a Landlord? Important Considerations Before Renting Your Home

Ready to Be a Landlord? Important Considerations Before Renting Your HomeWhether you’re going away on an extended vacation or considering downsizing into a smaller place, the popularity of websites like Airbnb has led many people to believe that there’s a lot of money in home rental. However, before putting your home on the market, it’s important to be aware of some of the factors that go into having a rental property. It may seem like extra money, but it’s the small details that can make it a more complicated process.

Is It A Short Term Solution

Many people plan on putting their home on the market for a short duration of time, but if you’re only planning on renting for 6 months or a year, it may not be as financially lucrative as you think. While tax breaks can go along with rental properties, the money you make off of this kind of investment is taxable so if you’re not in it for a slightly longer haul, you may not see the financial boost you’re looking for.

What Are You Willing To Deal With?

For those who are planning to put a home on the market, they still need some place to live, and this can mean that a certain amount needs to be made each month for the costs of having two homes even out. Before putting any serious considerations into this, ensure that you know it’s financially feasible. It’s entirely possible that you won’t have renters for certain periods of time and you could also run into problems with the renters you find, so you should sit down and put pen to paper to consider the investment potential.

Have You Considered The Maintenance?

Out of sight is often out of mind, but if you have a renter, you’re responsible for anything that goes wrong in the home. From small maintenance duties to sizeable but necessary overhauls, there are many things you’re legally obligated to do as a landlord and you’ll need to be prepared to take on these responsibilities. Since it will be the duty of the owner, in the event you don’t want to do it, you’ll have to hire a contractor who will be able to handle the work for you.

Having a house as a second property may seem like an ideal investment, but this can require you to take on the responsibilities of a landlord and you may even have to deal with problematic rental situations. If you’re searching for an additional property in the near future, contact your local mortgage professional for more information.

Mortgage Fraud: 3 Common Scams to Avoid

Mortgage Fraud: 3 Common Scams to AvoidThere are many ins and outs involved in securing a mortgage lender, and as a result there are many offers and options out there which are only around to take advantage of prospective homebuyers. If you’re on the lookout for a home and are trying to wade through all the details successfully, here are some things you may want to be aware of.

The Perfect Rental Deal

If you’ve ever rented an apartment in the past, it’s entirely possible that you’ve run into deals on Craigslist where a sizeable, stunning property is advertised at a very modest price. While scams like this are quite common when it comes to rentals, they also occur when scammers copy MLS listing and pretend to be an agent facilitating a real estate deal. There’s no sure way to avoid scams like these, but ensure you don’t hand over money or sign anything unless you’re 100% certain whom you’re dealing with.

Lenders Who Push The Envelope

Reliable lenders will be upfront with you when explaining the details associated with your mortgage, so it’s important to be cautious if you end up dealing with someone who asks you to exaggerate or embellish your financial claims. The only way to make a solid investment is to be honest about your financial situation, and anyone trying to inflate your income and the price you can pay is only hoping to gain a piece of the profit for themselves.

Investment Speakers And Seminars

With so much information out there, many people look for courses that will make them aware of the basics of investing so that they can do some of the legwork on their own. Courses like these can be useful in many cases but if they happen to be sponsored by an organization and are charging high attendance fees, there’s a good chance they’re trying to endorse their own services and may not be providing the most accurate information. Instead of guessing for yourself, you may want to read up on the basics and follow up with a trusted lender for any additional questions.

There’s a lot involved in delving into the real estate market, and that’s why it’s important to watch out for the kinds of things that may not be serving your best interest. If you’re currently looking for a lender and are planning on buying a home soon, contact your local mortgage professional for more information.

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Second Home to Rent

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Second Home to RentWith the ever-fluctuating cost of housing, buying real estate can be one of the best investments a person can make. However, a lot of important factors can be left out of the final decision when it comes to purchasing a home as rental property.

If you are taking the initial steps to invest in a second home, here are some important things to consider before you make the financial commitment.

The Distance To A Destination

Many people who purchase second homes to rent out choose to buy in places that are sought after, whether it’s a trendy area or beachfront property. While buying a home in a popular area may end up being good for your bank account, areas like this can often be out of the way and will take a little bit of car time to get to. If you’re doing the landlord duties on your own, this may take up a lot of precious evening and weekend time.

A Potential Vacation Home

There is certainly a great financial boon to be found in a home that you can rent out year round, but if you’ve purchased in an enviable location, this can also be a great place for you to take your family for a couple weeks out of the year during low-rental season.

While this may mean no rental income for a time, the savings of having a home at which to hang out can make up the difference. Of course, if it’s a place you won’t want to vacation, it may not be the right choice for you.

The Possibility Of Additional Income

If you’re planning to purchase in a cool new area or by a university, there’s a good chance you’ll have no issues finding a good renter as long as you have a nice property. However, while renting out a home can seem pretty straightforward, it’s necessary to consider how many months out of the year the place will actually be rented.

Many people go into this type of purchase expecting it to be occupied all year around, but demand can shift from season to season and this will directly impact the upside of your investment.

There are a number of benefits associated with owning a second home for rental property, but it’s also important to be aware of the financials downsides that can come from taking on another property.

If you are currently considering an investment property, you may want to contact your local mortgage professional for more information.